The first step in using an installer to install macOS on a new SSD is to create the installer itself. It should be formatted as Mac OS Extended. You’ll need a flash drive or external disk drive with at least 15 GB of free space. This is particularly useful if you want to install macOS on multiple computers, as it saves you from downloading the installer each time. How to Install macOS on a New SSD With a Bootable InstallerĪnother option for installing macOS onto your new SSD is to create a bootable installer. Once macOS has finished installing, take your Mac for a spin.Follow the on-screen instructions, ensuring that you select your new SSD drive as the destination.Wait for the drive to finish formatting, then press Cmd+Q to return to the main menu.If there is an option to select a Scheme, choose GUID Partition Map.For an SSD, APFS is the best choice of format, but if you’re using an older Mac, you may need to choose Mac OS Extended as APFS won’t work with macOS Sierra or older.

Fill in the required details for your new drive, such as the name and format.Select your new SSD in the left-hand menu and click Erase.Before you install macOS, you’ll need to format your new SSD.When Recovery has finished loading, you’ll see the available macOS Utilities.Once you see the message that Recovery is starting, you can release the keys.Keep holding until the options appear, then select Options > Recovery. For M1 Macs, press and hold the power button until you see a message informing you that if you keep holding the button, you will access the startup options.If you’re using an Intel Mac, press the power button to start up your computer, then immediately hold down Cmd+Option+R.Install the new SSD into your computer, following the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model of Mac.To install macOS on an SSD using Internet Recovery: You can use the macOS installation tool to install macOS on a new SSD that you have installed in your computer. You must be able to connect to the internet in order to use these tools. In this mode, you can repair your internal disks, restore files from a Time Machine backup, get online help, or reinstall macOS.

This allows you to boot your Mac into recovery mode. On any Mac made after 2009, there is a built-in recovery system. How to Install macOS on a New SSD Using macOS Recovery If you’re ready to make the upgrade, then here’s how to install macOS on a new SSD. There are several ways to do so, and we’ll take a look at some of them below. You’ll need to install macOS onto it to get your Mac up and running again. An SSD on its own isn’t much use, however. If you use a Mac, it’s possible to install a new SSD.

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